Luis Enrique goes ‘berserk’ at Jurrien Timber in Arsenal vs PSG clash
Arsenal full-back Jurrien Timber felt the wrath of PSG manager Luis Enrique as the two sides clashed in the Champions League.
The French champions welcomed Mikel Arteta‘s side to the Parc Des Princes on Wednesday night (7 May) for the second leg of their semi final clash.
Arsenal went into that match trailing PSG 1-0 following a narrow defeat in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium last week.
They would then fall further behind in the tie midway through the first half of this fixture, when Fabian Ruiz’s half-volley deflected in off William Saliba.
Jurrien Timber clashes with Kvicha Kvaratskhelia
As Arsenal went in search of an equaliser in the second half, the pressure of such a key game arguably began to tell on both sides.
That was perhaps highlighted by the reaction of PSG boss Enrique to an innocuous looking clash just after the hour-mark.
After Timber had jumped in the air with a hand slightly raised against Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, the winger was left on the ground holding his head, despite the contact between the two players being minimal.
| Jurrien Timber vs PSG | Total (SofaScore) |
| Accurate Passes | 22/31 |
| Duels Won | 9/15 |
| Clearances | 2 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Tackles | 4 |
| Fouls | 1 |
Despite the lack of malice and consequence of the clash, Enrique was seemingly far from impressed with what the Arsenal man did in that challenge.
Discussing that incident between the pair while commentating on the game for TNT Sports, Darren Fletcher said (7 May, 9.19pm):
“Enrique’s going beserk after that challenge by Timber on Khavaratskhlia but I mean he’s hardly touched him.”
After watching a replay of that collision, Ally McCoist then backed that up by downplaying the incident: “Not a lot in that at all Darren.”
Arsenal have bigger concerns than Luis Enrique anger
Football Insider Verdict
As was noted at the time, there was little to no contact by Timber on Kvaratskhelia so he cannot feel too bad about this regardless of that reaction from Enrique.
Even so, shortly after that incident, David Raya saved a penalty from Vitinha, only for Achraf Hakimi to score moments later anyway.
That meant Bukayo Saka’s late goal was little more than a consolation as PSG beat Arsenal 3-1 on aggregate to secure their place in the Champions League final.
As a result, the Gunners’ hope of ending their long wait to lift silverware have now been ended for another season.
Given the confidence they will have had after sweeping aside defending champions Real Madrid in the quarter finals, that will feel like a major anti-climax for those connected with the club.
Questions will now have to be asked about how they change that next season, with some suggestions Arteta may now be at risk of being sacked as Arsenal manager.
The fallout from this defeat will therefore generate plenty more interest around the Emirates Stadium in the coming weeks and months.